Re: Reuse Repositories (Was: Object Oriented Turing Demo on FTP)

[cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!csc.ti.com!til de.csc.ti.com!mksol!strohm@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (john r strohm)]

In article <SRCTRAN.93Apr29094316@world.std.com> srctran@world.std.com (Gregory
 Aharonian) writes:
> if there is any economic value in the process that it should be
>possible for the private sector to assume the responsibility.
>   I am trying to run a such a software reuse center as a private
>enterprise, and all of my competitors are government funded government efforts
.
>ASSET, DSRO, VCOE, ADANET, COSMIC, NTTC, etc all with taxpayers dollars
>can advertise, have 800 numbers and goto trade shows and conferences (well
>at least the non-DoD efforts).  I can not afford most of these marketing
>luxuries, and can't offer my services for free, making it difficult to find
>paying customers.  I can't find investors since they don't want to invest
>in a business where the "competition" has such an outrageous advantage.

Greg, the most basic premise of capitalism is that one does not attempt
to go head-to-head with a 700-lb gorilla if one wishes to succeed.  If you
cannot compete in your chosen market, FOR WHATEVER REASON, the thing to do
is fold your tent and do something else.

>And the shame of it all is that my database of information on reusable
>software is probably three times larger than the collective totals of all
>of the government sponsored efforts.  Yet it languishes because of these
>socialist interventions in the marketplace by the comrades in the DoD, DoC
>and NASA.

No, it languishes because YOU don't advertise EITHER.  Until I started
reading comp.lang.ada, I had no idea whatsoever that you even existed.
If I wasn't reading comp.lang.ada, I probably STILL would not know that
you existed.  Advertising is a cost of doing business, and your accountant
will tell you what that means.  As for 800 numbers: if you want an 800
number, there are voice mail firms that will give you an 800 number and a
mailbox.  This will give you at least a minimal "leave a message and I will
get back to you, or tell me what you need and give me a mailing address"
capability.

>   The DoD might get estatic about the "control" it has over software reuse
>in the defense world by controlling these centers, but it is at the expense
>of more efficient software reuse than the private sector could offer.

The market decides, Greg.  If you can provide BETTER service, which is defined
as being "what the market wants to buy, at the price they want it", and the
market KNOWS about your service, then you will be successful.  If you can't
do that, then you will fail.

>   The choice is simple: does the DoD want control or success with software
>reuse in light of the greater goal of systems development?  Putting people
>with no experience in charge of software reuse centers, but are good
>soldiers (literally and figuratively) indicates that the DoD prefers control
>over success.

Greg, it almost sounds like you want the DoD to put you COMPLETELY out of
business, rather than waiting for you to do it to yourself.  Consider: they
could be reading this, thinking what they can do to improve customer service,
and saying to themselves, "Greg has a point.  We AREN'T doing a good job of
getting the word out.  He even told us how we could do better.  Thanks, Greg!"
Are you SURE you want to trade an incompetent government-sponsored competitor
for a highly competent, highly aggressive one?

Greg, if the market doesn't know you exist, it has no reason to send you money.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BUSINESS THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO ADVERTISE.  THERE
ARE *ONLY* BUSINESSES THAT CAN'T AFFORD *NOT* TO ADVERTISE.  This is so basic
that it should be engraved into every businessman's skull.